A Level Headed Review Week 1 2023

[DenverChief]

1. WR's - Specifically Kadarius Toney - you can tell missing training camp has hurt him. Timing is off for the WR's and Patrick. Several throws behind receivers and just route confusion (James running in front of Toney causing him to lose the ball). This is the part about not playing starters more in the pre-season that concerns me. Have got to get a rhythm down on offense. Missing in action was Richie James (1 Catch on 2 Targets), Skyy Moore (0 for 3), Toney (1 for 5). MVS was 2 for 2 but disappeared after halftime. Somebody has to step up and be the guy when Kelce can't.

2. Jawaan Taylor and that early jump finally got called. Gotta figure that out - that is going to bite us hard later in the season. The OL did a decent job protecting Patrick but there were a few drives Hutchinson was just terrorizing the OL. Trey Smith looked completely overmatched by Hutchinson a few times.

3. The Defense only gave up 14 points - quite an accomplishment missing Chris Jones. I would argue the bigger missing factor was Kelce. The defense was gassed by the end of the game because the offense couldn't stay on the field. I was impressed by FAU, Bolton and Danna. Less impressive was tackling lots of guys trying to arm tackle instead of wrapping up - gotta get that cleaned up. Some of the open over the middle stuff was because we had to stack the box to stop the run. Without Jones able to clog it up the linebackers have to play closer to the line and that opens the middle window up.

4. Patrick lost his first season opener - was bound to happen sometime - glad it's just the first game of 16 more to be played.

5. The Pick 6 was all on Toney - ball just bricked in his hands. Gotta hit the jugs machine and make those hands soft again.

6. Running Backs - never gave McKinnon the chance to run the ball and CEH was once again 2-3 yards running the ball. Incredibly frustrating. Pacheco was the lone bright spot - don't understand why they don't feed him the ball more when It's working. He was ripping off 4,5,6,7 yard runs. Then there was the trick play on 3rd and 1 late in the game. Just give it to Pacheco - they read the ****ery before we even snapped the ball (and should have snapped it when they jumped offsides).

7. I firmly believe all of this is correctable. There isn't one thing that can't be ironed out with repetition and timing. I am not worried one bit this will be a season long trend. I am just frustrated there isn't more focus on letting the starters gel. I know the 3rd pre-season game is to help the bubble players but what does it hurt to give the starters a full quarter to play and feel things out.

8. I know Noah Grey is a fan favorite but I wonder how Bushman would have fared - he seemed to be really good at finding the holes in the D in the preseason. TE needs to be more productive.

9. Patrick was frustrated - you could see it in his face all night, if it wasn't receivers dropping balls it was being harassed in the pocket - by one guy. I thought for sure he would turn that frustration into focus and get the team on the same page and it seemed like it worked for a while but it fell apart in the 4th quarter. Maybe more conditioning is needed, seemed like a very hot a humid night in KC.

10. Next week at Jacksonville isn't going to get any easier - gotta turn this loss into focus and motivation. IF it goes how I think it will - there will be no mercy on JAX.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Do you guys ever look at the all-22? I watched part of it. Mahomes missed easy deep throws to MVS who was open by at least 5 yards 3 times on two drives in the 3rd quarter. And Watson was open deep several times.

Is it always like that? He’s the best ever and still miss taking those throws when he’s looking that way?

Here's the thing I don't understand.....

MVS is much better than everyone gives him credit for on this board. The guy has been more than what we expected. Without him in the playoffs we are all spending the offseason bitching about what could have been. And I also don't understand why Pat isn't going to him more....

Watson is the guy everyone wanted on this team the least if you read the preseason posts on here. But somehow he always manages to do some good thing with Pat.

With Kelce out, Pat (and Andy) should have depended on them more.

[T-post Tom]

Well done OP. I agree with most of your post. Maybe not as confident in the potential for this WR group. Also not as high on bushman. But most of this was spot on.

[displacedinMN]

catch the damn ball

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by In58men

Time to talk about the elephant in the room….Reid belongs on the hot seat.

After 1 game?

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I know that CEH looks less impressive than Pacheco, but CEH actually had a less abysmal ypc. He had 6 runs for 22 yards (3.7 ypc) and Pacheco had 8 runs for 23 yards (2.9 ypc).

Both of which are pathetic. This RB Corp is the worst I can remember as a Chiefs fan. Pacheco at least looks like he may have a future in the league.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Justin Watson played a decent game. But the fact that Watson was our 2nd leading WR is not a good sign.

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

Here's the thing I don't understand.....

MVS is much better than everyone gives him credit for on this board. The guy has been more than what we expected. Without him in the playoffs we are all spending the offseason bitching about what could have been. And I also don't understand why Pat isn't going to him more....

Watson is the guy everyone wanted on this team the least if you read the preseason posts on here. But somehow he always manages to do some good thing with Pat.

With Kelce out, Pat (and Andy) should have depended on them more.

The all-22 doesn't lie. We missed so many deep routes that were wide open, its a problem. I don't understand why there was no adjustment at halftime. They see the plays right after they get off the field. Those deep routes were wide open more than not.

And if its going to be a contested catch route, get Ross in there.

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by In58men

Time to talk about the elephant in the room….Reid belongs on the hot seat.

This is now officially the DUMBEST POST in the history of Chiefsplanet. You win.

One loss without two of his best three players in game one, and you want to put the coach who's won two of the last four Super Bowls on the hot seat?

GET THE **** OUT.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I know that CEH looks less impressive than Pacheco, but CEH actually had a less abysmal ypc. He had 6 runs for 22 yards (3.7 ypc) and Pacheco had 8 runs for 23 yards (2.9 ypc).

IMO, there are still some clear miscommunications occurring on the oline. Watching the tape, it looked like a lot of it was on the tackles, which makes sense given two new faces there. A number of, at least what I perceive to be blown assignments were a prevalent factor in both the pass and run game, especially on the sweeps.

[Gibby]

Originally Posted by JohnnyV13

Possible Headlines:


Chiefs Gift-Wrap Opening Day Victory for Undeserving Lions

Chiefs Receivers Drop Game Vs. Lions

Moronic Play Calls on Short Yardage Doom Chiefs

The best TEAM won buddy. You need a lesson in basic little league sportsmanship.

You tip your hat to the Lions, show some damn respect. So lucky Hutch didn't disassemble Mahomes, cheating Jawaan saved his bacon. And the whole league is laughing at you. The Lions are America's team now. Get with the program.

[PHOG]

America's Team. What a laugh.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Gibby

The best TEAM won buddy. You need a lesson in basic little league sportsmanship.

You tip your hat to the Lions, show some damn respect. So lucky Hutch didn't disassemble Mahomes, cheating Jawaan saved his bacon. And the whole league is laughing at you. The Lions are America's team now. Get with the program.

Clown.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The all-22 doesn't lie. We missed so many deep routes that were wide open, its a problem. I don't understand why there was no adjustment at halftime. They see the plays right after they get off the field. Those deep routes were wide open more than not.

And if its going to be a contested catch route, get Ross in there.

Eh, I'm going to have to disagree somewhat. On one of those plays, yeah two guys get wide open, in particular MVS deep down the middle, but when you look at the play and how it develops, it's pretty obvious it's a screen; Pat never even looks downfield.

Then another one where Watson gets wide open, but the pressure gets in there early (54 was a pita all night) and Pat never gets to look that far down the field.

In fact, we ran a lot of one-read plays in the second half.

We also ran a lot of plays where no receiver ran more than 10 yards downfield.

Btw, Skyy gets wide open down the boundary on that play where MVS slides to catch the ball (fantastic catch). he might've walked into the EZ. He has another play where he finds a great soft spot to sit down in, but Pat throws it underneath instead, but as he was getting pressured, I can't fault him for that.

But I just watched the A-22, just the Chiefs passing plays, and really, I don't see our WRs getting open a bunch of times deep. I see maybe 3-4 times. And one of those was the screen play, so it really doesn't count. A few times when someone got open in the intermediate range, say 10-15 yards deep, between the numbers. Mostly Gray, I think.

But, when DET decided to lock up our WRs, they were pretty good at it. I stopped keeping count at 6 plays when the DET secondary was in the hip pocket of every Chiefs WR. Most of those were in the first half. If you want to take a look, just find those plays when Pat takes off for a first down or whatever. Every Chiefs WR is wearing a Lions DB. Like they could be wearing the same jersey.

Another note: Pat threw into double and triple coverage several times. Okay, to be more precise, he threw into double coverage multiple times, into triple coverage once. But I was surprised he tried to thread the needle like that when most of the time there was a good option underneath. Frustration, maybe?


I could be wrong, but watching the A-22, there were several plays where Pat was practically staring his receiver down, a couple times when it feels like he predetermined pre-snap who was getting the ball (Ross on the hitch along the sideline, for example), some plays where it really looks like Pat completely ignores one side of the field (maybe a two- or three-read to that side?), etc.

If those were executed the way they were practiced, I kind of wonder why?

Anyway, I agree that there were some plays and probably points left on the field, but "bunches." Maybe 2-3 legitimate missed opportunities, and maybe 2 possibles at most.


Also, and I haven't watched all of the Lions A-22 plays, but there's a play in the 2nd half when 14 was streaking down the left hash all by himself, but Goff inexplicably throws the ball underneath to 0. No Chief within 15 yards of 14, so that was a TD.

Then one other a little later that might've gone for a TD, but probably Cook tackles the guy unless Goff throws a perfect 30-yd dime in stride, which isn't really his forte. But the catch would've put them in FG range, so worst case they probably get at least 3 there.

So, they left points on the field as well.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by jamison69

The lions are a good team and they were going against are crappy defense.

You mean the crappy defense that held them to only 14 points?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Eh, I'm going to have to disagree somewhat. On one of those plays, yeah two guys get wide open, in particular MVS deep down the middle, but when you look at the play and how it develops, it's pretty obvious it's a screen; Pat never even looks downfield.

Then another one where Watson gets wide open, but the pressure gets in there early (54 was a pita all night) and Pat never gets to look that far down the field.

In fact, we ran a lot of one-read plays in the second half.

We also ran a lot of plays where no receiver ran more than 10 yards downfield.

Btw, Skyy gets wide open down the boundary on that play where MVS slides to catch the ball (fantastic catch). he might've walked into the EZ. He has another play where he finds a great soft spot to sit down in, but Pat throws it underneath instead, but as he was getting pressured, I can't fault him for that.

But I just watched the A-22, just the Chiefs passing plays, and really, I don't see our WRs getting open a bunch of times deep. I see maybe 3-4 times. And one of those was the screen play, so it really doesn't count. A few times when someone got open in the intermediate range, say 10-15 yards deep, between the numbers. Mostly Gray, I think.

But, when DET decided to lock up our WRs, they were pretty good at it. I stopped keeping count at 6 plays when the DET secondary was in the hip pocket of every Chiefs WR. Most of those were in the first half. If you want to take a look, just find those plays when Pat takes off for a first down or whatever. Every Chiefs WR is wearing a Lions DB. Like they could be wearing the same jersey.

Another note: Pat threw into double and triple coverage several times. Okay, to be more precise, he threw into double coverage multiple times, into triple coverage once. But I was surprised he tried to thread the needle like that when most of the time there was a good option underneath. Frustration, maybe?


I could be wrong, but watching the A-22, there were several plays where Pat was practically staring his receiver down, a couple times when it feels like he predetermined pre-snap who was getting the ball (Ross on the hitch along the sideline, for example), some plays where it really looks like Pat completely ignores one side of the field (maybe a two- or three-read to that side?), etc.

If those were executed the way they were practiced, I kind of wonder why?

Anyway, I agree that there were some plays and probably points left on the field, but "bunches." Maybe 2-3 legitimate missed opportunities, and maybe 2 possibles at most.


Also, and I haven't watched all of the Lions A-22 plays, but there's a play in the 2nd half when 14 was streaking down the left hash all by himself, but Goff inexplicably throws the ball underneath to 0. No Chief within 15 yards of 14, so that was a TD.

Then one other a little later that might've gone for a TD, but probably Cook tackles the guy unless Goff throws a perfect 30-yd dime in stride, which isn't really his forte. But the catch would've put them in FG range, so worst case they probably get at least 3 there.

So, they left points on the field as well.

you are wrong. Check the QB school vid that’s posted on here in many spots. It walks you through way more than your 3 times you see on the all-22.

[DenverChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

The all-22 doesn't lie. We missed so many deep routes that were wide open, its a problem. I don't understand why there was no adjustment at halftime. They see the plays right after they get off the field. Those deep routes were wide open more than not.

And if its going to be a contested catch route, get Ross in there.

Where do you watch the all-22?